Thad Allen

In February 2001, a bipartisan federal commission on which we served warned that terrorists would acquire weapons of mass destruction and mass disruption. "Attacks against American citizens on American soil, possibly causing heavy casualties, are likely over the next quarter-century," the Hart-Rudman Commission said. "In the face of this threat, our nation has no coherent or integrated governmental structures." We added: "Congress should rationalize its current committee structure so that it best serves U.S. national security objectives." We identified 50 ways to improve national security, none of which was implemented before 9/11. One recommendation —...